Why doesn't john like civilization in chapter 16?

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In Chapter 16 Helmholtz and Bernard have a debate with Mustapha about how civilization destroys all passion and creativity. When asked why he censors old things like Shakespeare, Mustapha replies that society no longer needs them. People are happy now and would not even understand the old things. When Helmholtz argues that something like Othello is what he has always wanted to write, Mustapha says that he will never write it because tragedy and raw emotions lead to social instability. Bernard feels civilization to be an empty stifling place.